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The AFL Strykes Back

I used to have a job where I would much rather be sick at home than actually go to work. My current job is not that job. I am absolutely hating being stuck at home, despite the wonders of watching Dr. Phil and Maury, because I am missing coding on some awesome projects. But the other thing I do at work is look at mascots, and thankfully, mascot pictures go with me anywhere that I want… because they’re just an internet search away!

Today’s mascot comes from the internet search ‘weird professional football mascots.’ Thank you, Yahoo, for finding what completely matches this description. This is Styker, of the AFL’s Arizona Rattlers.

He represents one of the longest-running and most popular AFL teams, being founded in 1992 and often selling out their games. Granted, their stadium is only 15,500 at capacity, so selling out is not exactly a sign of popularity.

In 2009, the AFL filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy, because let’s face it, none of us watch it. But the Rattlers and three other teams decided to try and keep arena football alive, by making a new league called Arena Football 1. By 2010, Arena Football 1 had been granted all of the logos and naming rights of the original AFL, and therefore, none of us even noticed that the AFL had disappeared in the first place. In 2012, 2013, and 2014, the team earned the title of ArenaBowl champions, but lost in 2015 to the Sabrecats 67-70. Wow, I didn’t know AFL had such high scores and such little defense. And rattlesnakes.